“We offer a fantastic, affordable, place for young people to stay when they visit this great city.”

The YHA has had a hostel in the city since 1936 and has been in Botley Road since 2001, undergoing major refurbishment in 2012.

The 203-bed accommodation has 63,000 customers a year and is one of the top five most popular hostels in the country – with bookings at 90 per cent capacity year round.

Ward councillor Susannah Pressell said: “This is the best place for them, near the train station.

“I am hopeful that we can come up with something.

“I will help them resist. But we know we have to help them and there are options.”

She said there were buildings nearby, such as the former Railway Club, which could be used by the hostel.

Both the city council and the county council failed to respond to requests for a comment.

Compulsory purchase orders

Compulsory purchase powers allow an authority to buy land to carry out a function which Parliament has decided is in the public interest.
Anyone who has land acquired is usually entitled to compensation.
Bodies with statutory powers can use the powers, usually councils and the Highways Agency.
Last year, Oxford City Council used a compulsory purchase order to acquire a bungalow and land in Littlemore.
It said the building has been empty for more than 10 years and had become a target for vandals and thieves.

Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone's contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.